Appabatus foe sepabating asbestus from gbuseed book



{No Model.) M 3 Sheets-Sheet 24 H. 'PQWERS. APPARATUS P03 SEPARATING ASBESTUS FROM CRUSHED ROCK. No. 455,638. Patented Ju1y'7,1891.

ATTOHNE rs (N0 Modei' 3 Sheets-81100 033 E. POWER-S. APPARATUS FOR fi PARATlik G ASBESTUS FROM CRUSHED ROCK.

No. 455,638., Patenied July 7,1891.

WITNESSES :1 "6 //v VE/VT'OH y 7 f 1 f W w/gf- VLQ ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APP.RATUS FOR SEPARATING ASBESTUS FROM CRUSHED ROQK SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,638, dated July 7, 1891,

Application tilt-d September 17. 189i). Seriai No. 365,249. No model.

To all whom i/ lllfl l/ concern:

Be it known that I, Iinxnr lowt-ltts, of Cranbourne,connt.y of Dori-heater, inthe lrovinee of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and improved Apparatus for fiel'iarating Asbestus from (rushed Rock, of which the following,' is a full, clear. and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating asbestos from crushed rock, and has for its object to provide means whereby rock containing short fiber and con- 'sidercd worthless maybe manipulated in a simple economic manner, and all of the fiber contained therein expeditiously and effectnaily extracted, and a clean marketable article be obtained.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts of the apparatus, and in the novel steps of the process employed, as willbe hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the ciaims.

tefcrenee to be had to t heaceompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l isacentral vertical section through th apparatus a ortion of the front of tin: separator being in elevation. Fig. is a plan view of t n apparatus, a portion of the separator being," in section, the elevators being omitted. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the separator, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.1; and Fig. -l is a horizontal section through the separator, th section being taken practically on the ine i l of Fig. l.

'ihe invention consists, primarily, in the novei constructitm of the separator and the settler it. The litlft-i l of the separator is preferably rectangularingeneralcontour, and is surrounded near its margin with an upright; flange 11. .\t the center of the base a longitudinai bedblock 12 is located, which may constitute an integral portion thereof, if tlesircd. The block is of less length than the base, and is provided in its upper portion with a compartment 1 open at the top, the upper surface of the compartment being beveled, as shown in Fig. 1.

Between each side flange and the bed-block a longitudinal partition it is secured to the base, extending from end to end and forming side chambers and t". The height of the partitions is preferably somewhat greater titan the height of the flanges.

The upper chambered portion of the baseblocl; is surrounded by a shed t5, essentially triangular in cross-section, the lower edges of which shed rest upon and are attiu-hettto the upper edges of the partitions 14, extending flush with their outer side faces. The shed usually consists of a sheet-metal plate, a asti-ng'or forging of a length equal to thatof the base between the cud flanges, which plattat its apex is provided with a longitudinal openin of suflit-ient size only to permit the plate to fit over the bed-block, and the wallsof the opening may be flanged and the flanges sc cured to the block, l-rom this construction it is obvious that. any weighty substanecovcrflowing from illt compartment of the block will be {guided entirely and directly to thrsidt compartments (T and The body of the separator consists of a metal jacket lo,t-onforming to the contour of the base and open at top and bottom. When the jacket rests properly upon the base, it ongages with the outer faces of thcbase-fianges and is riveted, bolted, or otherwise secured thereto, the joint being a water-tight one.

Two partitions lTarelongitudinallysecured in the ja ket, one at each side of its center,-

t'orming thereby three compartments l), l), and i)", the side ctmtpartmcnts l)and I) bein of equal width with the base eompartments (Y and The partitions 17, ltt'iWtrVr-tk extend only a short distance below the oeutcr of the jacket, terminating at a point slightty above the level of the upper face of the bed-block, as best illustrated in Fig. '1.

The inner lower surfaces of the partitions]? have horizontal battens l secured thereto, which have a mortise or other closed connection with similar battens tJ, secured to the inner end'surfaees of the jacket. Sieves 90,

2t, 22, and 23am employed within thejaeket,

producing a lower compartment E therein. These sieves rest at their lower edges in proper; recesses produced in the sides and ends of the bed-block, and their upper edges are secured in any approved manner to the upper edges of the battens 1S and 1S).

In order that the sieves may notbe injured by the crushed rock which is: introduced into the jacket compartment D, they are covered by perforated plates 24, which serve as shields. A space is made to intervene the sieves and the shields, as shown in Fig. l, and the shields are preferably made to rest at their lower edges upon the upper edges of the bed-block, while their upper edges are secured to the jacket and its partitions 1'7.

The end walls of the chambers C and C are inclined downward in the direction of their centers, and this is usually acco mplished by fitting plates in the said ends of the chambers, which plates have a bearing against the sides and ends of the jacket, the upper surface of the shed, and the side flanges and partitions 11 and 1- the lower ends of the plates being made to rest upon the floors of the chambers. 4

Two elevators 26 are employed in connection with the separator, one being located at each side, extending downward through the compartments 1) and D and the compar ments and 0' below them, the position of the elevators in the lower compartments being at the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The elevators may be of any approved construction, and consist, usually, of a box-like structure containingendless-chain belts havin g buckets applied thereto:

In the forward end of the jacket, near the to an o enin 27 is reduced covered by a vertically-sliding gate 28, which gate has produced therein a lipped opening 2f ,-adapte d for connection with any approved form of trough or chute 30, and in the front end of jacket, very near the top and at each side of the sliding gate, an outlet-pipe 31 is inserted. Water-inlet pipes 232 are carried over the rear end of the jacket and are curved downward to discharge into the central compartment thereof.

The settler B consists of a tank 33, having an open top and a bottom surface inclined or beveled from all sides downwin d to the center, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tank is preferably of rectangular shape, as illustrated, but theshape may be varied, ii in practice itis found desirable. Across the open top of'the tank a number of preferably parallel beams 35 are located, to which beams the upper edge of a battle-plate 3G is secured in any suitable or approved manner, the battleplate being bent inward upon itself to form a continuous serpentine channel 37, the contour of which channel is preferably made to correspond to the general contour of the tank. Between the opposed walls of the channel at its center a bucket 39 is suspended, which bucket is dctachably secured to said walls, and in front of or at one side of the bucket an elevator, 40 of like character with the elevators 26 is located, which elevator extends upward above the upper face of the tank and downward within the same. resting upon the bottom at the center thereoflas is best illustrated in Fig. l."

.rator equal to that delivered there-to. quently there is a constant pressn re within the separator, and the surplus is made to find an thereto through the medium of the inlet-pipes.

32, and the main outlet for the water is the lipped opening 25). The said opening, however, is not made sutiiciently large to permit an amount of water to flow out of the sepa' Conseexit through the outlet-pipes 31. The gate 28 by being raised or lowered lessens or makes greater the pressure upon the water flowing through the lipped opening 29, and the constant supply of water through the pipes 32 from the top of the separator creates an agitation therein. The rock containing the asbestus is crushed in any suitable machine, and the crushed rock is emptied into the hem tral compartment D of the separator at-the top. The said rock falls downward in the water upon the perforated plates 24, and is guided thereby into the chamber 18 of the bed-block. The said chamber is provided with dies 42, which are operated upon byany suitable or approved form of stamps l3, and through the mediumof the stamps and dies if and 42 the crushed rock is-pulverized to such an extent that the asbestus is freed therefrom and crushed sufiieiently to cause the disintegration or separation of its fibers from each other. TheEa-nd or fine particles of rock by the constant agitation of thewatcr is carried slightly upward and passes through the perforations of the plates 24: and through V the screens beneath the plates over the shed 15 down into the base-chambers C and from whence the accumulated sand is removed by the elevators 9d. 'lheasbestus, which in the presence of still water would sink, but being crushed and disintegrated and. under the influence of the agitated water in the separatoris floated upward, and the tendency of the water being to find an exit througlrthe 'lippcd opening 29, the asbestus is carried on tward through the same opening and deliveretjl into the chute 30. delivered, is perfectly clean, being entirely free from any grit or particles'of rock. l'lhe asbestus and water delivered to the chute frourthc separator pass off the end of the chuteand drop into the bucket 39. The settler is also filled with Water, the overflow being, as heretofore statethat i1. The water in the settier, however, is still and is kept in this state by reason of the supply-from the chute 3O emptying into the bucket Sfhand the' The asbestus, when so Lil water and asbestus consequcntlyttlow from 'the top of the bucket without agitation-and mingle witlrthe water contained in the settler, and as there is a mild current at all times in the settler,due to the supply at the bucket. and the outlet at the recess 41, the asbestus and water delivered to the settler flow through the serpentine channel 37, and in flowing, as the water, as heretofore stated, is nearlystill, the asbestus by gravity sinks to the bottom of the settler, and is constantly removed therefrom by the elevator 40. in this manner all of the rock containing short fiber and heretofore consideredas a waste product maybe manipulated to thoroughly and expeditiously as well'as economically removeall of the ashestus, which after leaving the settler may be placed in any form of baling-press and pressed or compressed, as may be found desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described method of separating asbestns from rock, which consists in si; multaneously pulverizing the rock and crushing the asbestus therein to cause the disintegration thereof into separate fibers in an agitated body of water having an upward current to float oft said fibers, the pulverized rock king in the water,substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a water-chamber having a transverse screen dividing it into an upper and a lower compartment a pulverizing-stamp operating in the upper compartment, and means for eltccting an upward flow of water through said chamber to float off the asbcstus fibers, substantially as set forth.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising a water-chamber having a funnel shaped screen dividing it into an upper and a lower compartment, a pulverizing-stamp encircled by said screen, a water-inlet discharging into said chamber, and a watcr-outlct near the upper end of the chamber of less area than the water-inlet and through which the :isbestus fibers are floated, the crushed rock falling through thesaid screen into thelower compartment, substantially as set forth.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising the \va-terchamber having a screen dividing it into an upper and a lower compartment, a pulverizing-stamp encircled by said screen, a funnel-shaped foraminated shield above the screen and discharging into the stamp, and a water supply and outlet adapted to cause an upward ilow through the chamber to float oil the asbcstus fibers but permit the pulverized rock to fall through the screen into the lower compartment, substantially as set forth.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising the water chamber having a screen dividing it transversely into an upper and lower compartment, a tunnel-shaped foraminaied shield above the screen, a pulverizing-stamp encircled by the screen and into which the shield discharges, a water supply and outlet at the upper end of the chamber cause an upward flow therethroug'h to float off the asbestus libers, and an elevator to remove the pulverized rock from'thc lower compartment as it falls thercinto through the screen, substantially as set forth.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising a water chamber or reservoir having a transverse screen dividing it into an up per and a lower compartment, a pulverizing stamp encircled by the screen, the screen permitting the pulverized rock to pass therethrough, but preventing the passage of the disintegrated asbestus, a water supply and outlet adapted to cause an upward flow through the chamber to float olt the said fibers, a chute or conduit receiving the Water and fiber, and a settling-chaml'ier, into which the chute discharges.

7. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a stamp, a chamber or reservoir in which the stamp is located, having a wateroutlet near the top of less area than the war ter-inlct, and a chute leading from said out.- let, and a settling-chamber to which said chute leads provided with a water-outlet and a water-receiving vessel, as and for the purpose set forth.

h. In an apparatus of the character described, a stamp, a chamber or reservoir in which the stamp is locat d, having a wateroutlet near the top of less area than the watcr-inlet, a settling-chambcr provided with a battle-plate bent inward to form a serpentine channel, a receptacle suspended in the center of the channel, and a sluice-connection: between the water-outlet from the stamp and the suspended receptacle of the settlingchamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

5). In an apparatus of the character described, a separator comprising a jacket the base of which is provided with a chambered bed-block. screens engaging with the jacket and surrounding the block. a stamp operating in the bed-block to pulvcrize the rock and disintegrate the asbestus into fibers, compartments at the sides of the block, and an in cl'ined shed leading to the said compartments, and a water inlet and outlet at the upper end of the jacket to cause an upward llow of water therethrough to lloal oit'theasbestus fibers. substantially as shown and described.

1b. in an apparatus of the character dcseribcrl, a separator comprising a jacket the base ol which is provided with a chambered bed-block, inclined screens engaging with the jacket and surrounding the block, a stamp operating in the bed-block to pulvcrize the rock and disintegrate the asbestos into fibers, compartments below the screens at the sides of. the block, an inclined shed leading to the said compartments, and elevators located in the said compartments,and a water inlet and outlet at the upper end of the jacket to cause an upward fiowol' watcrl hcrclhrough to float oil the asbestus fibers, substantially. as and for the purpose specified.

ll. In an apparatus of the character described, a separator comprising a jacket ,the

base of which is provided with a chambered bed-block, screens engaging with the jacket and surrounding the block, perforated shields located above the screens, an' inclined shed surrounding the blockbclow the screens, and compartments at the base of the shed, as and for the purpose specified.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a separator comprising a jacket the base ot-which is provided with a chambered bed-block, compartments formed at the sides of the block, screens surrounding the block, an inclined shed located beneath the screens and leading to the compartments, and stamps located within the; jacket, the said stamps be ing held to reciprocate to and from the bedbloclr, as and for the purpose specified.

1 In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a separator comprising a jacket adapted to contain water and having an outlet of less, area than its inlet, and a stampanill located 'within the jacket, of screens surrounding the mill, at settlingchamber provided with a suspended receptacle, and a sluice-connection between the outlet of the separator and the receptacle of the settler, as and for the purpose specified.

14, In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, With a separator comprising a jacltethaving a water-inlet and an adjustable water-outlet of less area than the inlet, both the inlet and'outlet being located near the top of the jacket, a stamp-mill located Within the jacket, and screens surrounding" the mill and engaging with the jacket, of shields located above the screens, a settling-chamber provided with a serpentine channel, a water-outlet and a suspended -receptacle, and a sluice-connection between the suspended receptacle and the outlet of separator, substantially as and for the pur- I pose specified.

15. In an apparatus of the character de' scribed, the combination, with a separator consisting of a jacket containing a stamp-mill and provided with a water-inlet near its upper end at one side, and a water-outlet near the upper end at the opposite side, the said water-outlet being, of less area than the inlet, and oveiflow -openings above the outlet, screens located around the stamp-mill,an inclined shed beneath the screens, chambers formed at each side of the shed,'and elevatin g mechanism connected with the chambers,

of a settler, a sluice-connection between the vided with a bottom inclined from the sides and ends to the center, a bafileplate suspended within the tank above its bottom, the said plate being curved inward to form a serpentine channel, a receiving-receptacle sus pended between the walls of the nameplate near the center thereof, and'a'n elevating mechanism having connection with the bottom of the tank, as and forthe purpose spent.

tied.

HENRY POYVERS.

I ll'itne'sses 1 J. FRED. ACKER, Emma l.\lE. 

